The Observer, September 12, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 3
Amethyst Initiative wants to open discussion about U.S. minimum legal drinking age
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Over the summer, leaders in higher education have been discussing the minimum legal drinking age with great intensity. Much of this debate was sparked by the Amethyst Initiative, launched this July. The statement has already been signed by the presidents or chancellors of 129 colleges, including institutions such as Dartmouth College, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, and recently, The Ohio State University. In the short time that this initiative has been in existence, the 129 colleges may be leading the way to an open discussion of alcohol use and abuse within higher education.
For the last 24 years, the legal drinking age in most states has been 21. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 reduces the federal highway funding that states receive by 10 percent for any state that has a minimum drinking age below 21. This act effectively closed debate on the issue, since no states would be willing to lose 10 percent of their federal funding. The Amethyst Initiative asks that Congress reconsider the effects of this act, as it has inhibited any discussion on changes to the drinking age for the past two decades.
Abhishek Singh, a senior biomedical engineering student, agrees that a minimum drinking age set at 21 is ineffective, and thinks that more debate on the subject would be useful.
"Rethinking the drinking age is a good idea, because many kids start drinking well in advance of turning 21. Their 21st birthday is a formality at best – now they can get drunk legally rather than hiding it," he said.
The prevalence of alcohol on college campuses means that many students form drinking habits well before their 21st birthday. The Amethyst Initiative is concerned with the popularity of binge drinking on college campuses, and sees it as a sign that today's youth are developing unhealthy habits with regards to alcohol. Chinmay Patel, a senior biology major who aspires to become a doctor, agrees, "Reform is needed to ensure that the students at that age are not encouraged to binge drink, a habit that, once formed, could form a lifelong alcohol dependence, even if it does not cause permanent damage to the student."
However, many are skeptical of the impact this initiative can have. Caitlyn Ngam, a junior biochemistry and music double major, supports the idea, but is unsure of how effective it will be: "It is based around a good idea and is a different approach to that position, but I doubt that it will gain enough attention or influence the right people to accomplish significant change as far as changing the drinking age."
The Amethyst Initiative does not propose a specific course of action such as lowering the drinking age, but recommends that the country take this matter seriously and encourages open debate on the subject. Peter Simko, a junior civil engineering student, is cautiously optimistic about the success of the initiative: "Regardless of how many people sign this initiative, it does not seem clear enough on its intent, other than to facilitate or simply encourage discussion on the issue as a whole. Although this is a good start, there must be a stronger opinion on all parts of society that first, this is actually a major problem and not just an overly-emphasized myth, and second, that there is one or a small list of clear solutions that would be considered sufficient or at least significantly helpful for the amount of work it would take to employ a new law or ruling."
Sophia Houghton, a junior accounting major, thinks that the initiative addresses a serious organizational problem that many colleges today face. She explains, "I believe that the presidents who have signed up for the initiative are just trying to appease students and get rid of a problem. It is hard to have two halves of the student population, and it would be easier if all students could be treated equally. There is no real difference in maturity between an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old. At 18 you are an adult in every respect but alcohol. It doesn't make sense."
Although students are split on their opinions, the attitude of the administration is unclear.
Case president Barbara Snyder has not signed the initiative, and comments have proved difficult to obtain from university administration.
"No, our office has not taken a stance on the organization or the issue," said Janice Gerda, director of Residence Life. Wes Schaub, director of Greek Life, said, "I don't think we are the folks to ask for comments."
Student Affairs was asked for comment, but had not responded at press time.
While the Amethyst Initiative addresses relevant and important issues for colleges and universities, it may be too narrow in focus to have any lasting impact. Changes to the legal drinking age will affect more than simply those college students who are developing poor habits, and the initiative does not take into account how the rest of society will be affected.
Alex Cooke, a senior mathematics and psychology major, explains, "The initiative tends to forget that collegians make up a small percentage of all 21-year-olds, so even so, changing the drinking age is much more complicated than just dealing with binge-drinking college kids."
